James Wurster Astrophysics Group School of Physics University of Exeter Stocker Road Exeter EX4 4QL Phone: +44 01392 723445 Email: j.wurster@exeter.ac.uk Web: http://users.monash.edu.au/~jwurster/ Employment 2016 present Research Fellow Astrophysics Group School of Physics University of Exeter Exeter, England 2013 2016 Research Fellow Monash Centre for Astrophysics (MoCA) School of Physics and Astronomy Monash University Melbourne, Australia Education 2008 2013 Ph. D. Astronomy Saint Mary s University (SMU) Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Title: Feedback from AGN: A Study of its Impact and Numerical Implementations Advisor: Dr. Robert J. Thacker 2006 2008 M. Sc. Astronomy Queen s University Kingston, Ontario, Canada Title: Defining Gravitational Singularities in General Relativity Advisor: Dr. Kayll Lake 2002 2004 B. Sc. (Honours) Mathematics and Physics The University of Western Ontario (UWO) London, Ontario, Canada Honours Thesis Title: Simulating the Hydrodynamic Collapse of a 3D Molecular Cloud Honours Thesis Advisor: Dr. Shantanu Basu Publications Refereed journal publications J. Wurster, D. J. Price, and M. R. Bate. Can non-ideal magnetohydrodynamics solve the magnetic braking catastrophe? MNRAS, 457:1037 1061, March 2016. J. Wurster, D. Price, and B. Ayliffe. Ambipolar diffusion in smoothed particle magnetohydrodynamics. MNRAS, 444:1104 1112, October 2014. R. J. Thacker, C. MacMackin, J. Wurster, and A. Hobbs. AGN feedback models: correlations with star formation and observational implications of time evolution. MNRAS, 443:1125 1141, September 2014. D. J. Williamson, R. J. Thacker, J. Wurster, and B. K. Gibson. Cloud angular momentum and effective viscosity in global SPH simulations with feedback. MNRAS, 442:3674 3685, August 2014.
J. Wurster and R. J. Thacker. A comparative study of AGN feedback algorithms. MNRAS, 431:2513 2534, May 2013. J. Wurster and R. J. Thacker. Accretion disc particle accretion in major merger simulations. MNRAS, 431:539 553, May 2013. S. Basu, G. E. Ciolek, W. B. Dapp, and J. Wurster. Magnetically-regulated fragmentation induced by nonlinear flows and ambipolar diffusion. New A, 14:483 495, July 2009. S. Basu, G. E. Ciolek, and J. Wurster. Nonlinear evolution of gravitational fragmentation regulated by magnetic fields and ambipolar diffusion. New A, 14:221 237, April 2009. Submitted papers J. Wurster. NICIL: A stand alone library to self-consistently calculate non-ideal magnetohydrodynamic coefficients in molecular clouds. Conferences Sept. 2015 June 2015 February 2015 July 2014 February 2014 March 2012 Colloquia August 2015 June 2015 April 2015 August 2014 June 2014 Australian National Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. Contributed Talk: To Be or Not to Be: That is the Hall Effect. J. Wurster, D. Price & M. Bate. Protoplanetary Disk Dynamics and Planet Formation, Yokohama, Japan. Contributed Talk: Disc Formation using Non-Ideal Magnetohydrodynamics J. Wurster, D. Price & M. Bate Disc dynamics & Planet formation, Larnaka, Cyprus. Contributed Poster: Bring back the disc! J. Wurster, D. Price & M. Bate Australian National Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, Canberra, ACT, Australia. Contributed Talk: When Ideal Gas is Not Enough: Collapsing a Cloud to form a Protostar. J. Wurster & D. Price. AGN vs Star Formation: The Fate of the Gas in Galaxies, Durham, England. Contributed Poster: Influence of real vs numerical bulge mass on star formation rates during major mergers. J. Wurster & R.J. Thacker. Australian National Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Contributed Talk: AGN feedback: A comparative study. J. Wurster. Turbulence in Cosmic Structure Formation, Tempe, Arizona, United States. Contributed Poster: A comparative study of AGN feedback implementations. J. Wurster & R. J. Thacker. Swinburne University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. On the formation of proto-stellar discs using non-ideal magnetohydrodynamics. Monash University (MoCA), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. On the formation of discs using non-ideal magnetohydrodynamics. Monash University (Fluids Seminar Series), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Magnetohydrodynamics in the star formation process. University of Exeter, Exeter, England. Finding the disc around pre-stellar objects. University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The Challenges of Numerical Star Formation. University of Central Lancashire, Preston, England. Angels and Demons: AGN sub-grid models. Monash University (MoCA), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Angels and Demons: AGN sub-grid models.
Sept. 2012 Saint Mary s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. A comparative study of AGN feedback implementations. Technical Skills Summary Computer Fortran, Python, GNUplot, L A TEX. Languages Numerical Codes Numerical Modelling Code Development Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics: PHANTOM, SPHNG, HYDRA. Grid: ZEUS-3D. Run large simulations to analyse the physical evolution and final state. Run suites of simulations to perform systematic comparisons to determine the effects of the included terms and parameters. Use pre-written and self-written analysis programmes (Fortran, Python) to analyse and interpret numerical data. Extended existing astrophysical codes to include new physics. Wrote and implemented an ionisation and non-ideal magnetohydrodynamic module (PHANTOM, SPHNG). Wrote and implemented several AGN feedback sub-grid models (HYDRA). Wrote and implemented an N-body solver to track stars created in shocks (ZEUS-3D). Wrote and implemented an external force routine to model AGN winds (ZEUS-3D). Modified existing astronomical codes for enhanced realism. Added physical checks to sink particle creation (PHANTOM). Modified existing astronomical codes for enhanced performance. Incorporated super-timestepping to current timestepping algorithm (PHANTOM). Incorporated the Saito-Makino timestep limiter in the independent timestep algorithm to wake inactive neighbours (PHANTOM). Modified output to logfile to be less verbose yet more useful by summarising important quantities (PHANTOM). Modified the star formation algorithm to obtain speed-ups of a few to a few dozen (HYDRA). Debug large astronomical codes. Supervision Summary Summer Ms. Madeline Marshall 2015-2016 Third Year Summer Student (Monash; co-supervised with Dr. Paul Lasky) Project Title: Simulating the largest explosions in the Universe: Equations of State in Neutron Star Mergers Summer 2015-2016 Mr. Bernard Field First Year Summer Student (Monash; co-supervised with Dr. Paul Lasky) Project Title: Simulating the largest explosions in the Universe: Gravitational Wave Emission during Neutron Star Mergers 2015 Mr. David Liptai Honours Thesis (Monash; co-supervised with Dr. Daniel Price) Project Title: Star Formation: Determining the Initial Mass Function
Teaching Summary Oct 2015 Lecturer: Stars and Galaxies (galaxy interactions and galaxy clusters modules; Monash: ASP 3012) Apr 2013 Jan 2013 Apr 2013 Jan 2012 Dec 2012 Apr 2012 Apr 2009 Apr 2009 Jan 2007 Dec 2008 Sept 2007 Apr 2007 Sept 2006 Dec 2006 Teaching Assistant Coordinator (SMU): oversaw all teaching assistants in the Department of Astronomy and Physics Instructor: University Physics laboratory sections (SMU: PHYS 1101) Instructor: Physics for Life Science laboratory sections (SMU: PHYS 1000/1001) Teaching Assistant: University Physics laboratory section (SMU: PHYS 1100/1101) Teaching Assistant: University Physics laboratory section (SMU: PHYS 1100/1101) Teaching Assistant: University Physics help desk (SMU: PHYS 1100/1101) Teaching Assistant: Practical Engineering Modules laboratory section (Queen s University: APSC 100) Tutor: First year physics for physicists (Queen s University: PHYS 104) Teaching Assistant: Second year dynamics laboratory section (Queen s University: PHYS 206) Scholarships and Awards Dec 2014 Awarded 600000CPU hours from the Australian National Computational Merit Allocation Scheme (NCMAS) Aug 2012 Aug 2012 Sept 2009 Aug 2011 Aug 2010 Sept 2007 Aug 2008 Sept 2006 Aug 2007 Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research Graduate Award (SMU) Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research Fellowship (SMU) National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Canada Graduate Scholarship - Ph. D. Level Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research Graduate Award (SMU) NSERC Post Graduate Scholarship - M. Sc. Level (Extension) NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship - M. Sc. Level
Other activities Memberships 2013 2016 Astronomical Society of Australia (ASA; professional organization) 2013 2016 Australian National Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (ANITA; professional organization) 2008 2013 Canadian Astronomical Society (CASCA; professional organization) Other activities Volunteer positions 2015 present MoCA Public Talk Series: Co-coordinator 2014 MoCA Seminar Series: Coordinator Nov 2013 Spring 2010 MoCA PhD Day: Organised and ran critical writing workshop CASCA 2010: Graduate student representative on SMU s local organising committee, and organised the Graduate Student Workshop 2010 International Year of Astronomy: Various positions at events (e.g. public talks, public observing) hosted by SMU Aug 2010 April 2008 June 2007 April 2007 References Available upon request SMU s Burke-Gaffney Observatory: Periodically assisted the telescope operator at public tours Frontenac, Lennox, and Addington Science Fair: Judge CASCA 2007: Served on the Royal Military College s local organising committee Frontenac, Lennox, and Addington Science Fair: Judge March 21, 2016